06.12.06

Our long cherished journey to Dolpo kick started as the Yeti Air plane bound for Juphal landed on the airstrip of Juphal. As we got off the aircraft, we felt as if we were at some faraway settlement.On the trail, we came across many places – Dunai, Bhedigoth, Kagsi, Raktang, Sangta and Chhepkaka – before reaching Lake Phoksundo. The trek that had taken uphill from the confluence of Sulighat and Bheri River an hour away from Dunai continued till the Tapiricha School of Saijal, situated at the foothill of the lake. Now our destination was just an uphill walk of four hours.

We were astonished when we saw the villages, hotels and schools on the way all empty. We learnt it was the season to collect œworms in the highlands. The locals call the Yarchagumba œlife saving worms as a single bug costs from Rs 50 to 75. œFor us, it’s like a seasonal cultivation, said Bishnu Lal Budha, the Kantipur reporter in Dolpa, œPeople have no time to stay at home during the season.

We headed towards the lake, coercing our feet against the steep mountains. The uphill trails adorned the serpentine queues of the worm collectors. The people hailed as far as from Jumla, Rolpa, Rukum and Jajarkot, and had their ration transported on the backs of donkeys and jhopas.

We were accompanied by Thinley, the chief protagonist in Caravan, from Dunai. He was on his way to his village Saldang. He, along with daughter Dawa, was returning from Kathmandu with a stock of medicines for the health post at Saldang. œIt’ll take three more days to reach home, he said, standing on the bank of the lake.

We felt his popularity everywhere in Dolpo. The CDs of Caravan were available at the shops in Dunai. œI’m amazed when people approach me, saying they want to cast me in their products, he told us, laughing.

The emerald blue lake of Phoksundo looked tranquil and pristine that morning. Mount Kanjiroba was mirroring on the lake. To our amazement, the lake, immensely popularized by Eric Valli’s film œCaravan, was in full solitude, having literally no tourists due to the protracted conflict. Lal Bahadur KC, the Principal of Govinda Primary Scholl told City Post that œan eerie silence has enveloped this region due to the conflict.

œThough (the film) Caravan has given Dolpo an international exposure, the hardship of the people is never any less, correspondent Budha explained, œThe dispute over the depth of this lake hasn’t yet been subsided. The Department of Meteorology, in its survey three years back, had suggested the depth to be as 145 meters. However, other data contradict it to be as deep as650 meters.

The data of the Shey-Phoksundo Conservation Office too suggest that foreign tourists visiting the lake numbered just 36 till November this year. Tourists visiting this destination had reached 254 two years back. The arrival took downturn since the Maoists imposed US$100 per person as entry tariff to the area.

œIn any case, the beauty of the lake overshadows whatever, explained Principal Ghanashyam Sharma of Tapiricha School, œScores of people throng here asking for the place from where the yak fell into the lake in the film.

All the neplease knows that our country is beautiful. but the many country and the people don\’t know. even neplease don\’t know the beautiful place of nepal like manang,mustang, dolpa e.t.c reason there is no veicheles no facilites which the people want. but today through phalano.com many peoples are knowing the beauty of nepal and places.
good job phalano.com hope we can see more beautiful pics and places of nepal in coming days. And hope there will be vicheles when i will be in my country nepal and i can go there to view the beauty of nepal. ***

hello dai,
namaskar
do not need to say anything, pictures speak its’ own wow… such great an beautiful snaps ..and great job.. hardly, we can have a chance to see a beautiful view of nepal even we re ne[alese… u only did a great job for all of us..i really appreciate ure brave and keep it on.. one day i will be there where u have showed us a natural beauties of nepal. thanks once again dai and phalano,com for ure contribution.
hem pun golcoast
australia

hi rajesh ji thanks alot for such wonderful pictures and if possible please keep some more recent photoes too .I hope you will do it for the persons who are far frm their country.Looking such pictures we feel proud of being nepali.
hoping to have a look of more recent photoes again thank you very much.

Its amazingly the greatest scenes which i never seen before.
I am so proud to be a son of Nepal ama which words can’t
describe its natural beauty. I really appreciate your idea to
highlights the treasures of Nepal ama, all over the worlds.
Great job and keep it up.

SIMPLY GREAT , SIMPLY GREAT, I M REALLY IMPRESSED BY THE SCENERIO.
I M A PETRIOTIC CITEZEN , I STAY AT MUMBAI SINCE LAST 25 YEARS AND NOW I M PLANNING TO GET BACK TO MOTHERLAND.
JUST KEEP IT UP , AND GO NO…….